John Hope House

The John Hope Settlement House, which has provided social services to generations of poor Providence residents, is in financial trouble. The non-profit is on track to lose $200,000 this year.

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The John Hope Settlement House is losing $30,000 a month, according to its director, Nina Pande. She says the problems started about six years ago when the nonprofit discontinued two contracts with the state Department of Children, Youth and Families that were worth $2 million a year. Then in 2011, a private foundation grant worth $1.3 million a year expired.

When asked whether the organization would survive past this year she replied, “I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you that. I mean we’re chipping away at it slowly. What I can tell you is we’ve reduced the monthly deficit since November until now by about $15,000 or $18,000 a month.” “So we are successful at reducing expenses and increasing revenues but it all depends on how funding flows into the organization,” she says.

The red ink at Hope House has prompted the legislative Black and Latino Caucus to request a hearing with the agency’s leaders. Hope House board chair Matthew Stark turned down the invitation, saying the purpose of the proposed forum was unclear.

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